Description: Screen legends Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich
and Charles Laughton star in this "brilliantly made
courtroom drama" (Film Daily) that left audiences reeling
from its surprise twists and shocking climax. Directed by
Billy Wilder, scripted by Wilder and Harry Kurnitz, and
based on Agatha Christie's hit London play, this splendid,
one-of-a-kind classic "crackles with emotional electricity"
(The New York Times) and continues to keep movie lovers
riveted until the final, mesmerizing frame. When a wealthy
widow is found murdered, her married suitor, Leonard Vole
(Power), is accused of the crime. Vole's only hope for
acquittal is the testimony of his wife (Dietrich)... but his
airtight alibi shatters when she reveals some shocking
secrets of her own! Nominated for 6 Academy Awards®
including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Laughton)
and Supporting Actress (Elsa Lanchester).

The Film:

Having just recovered from a heart attack, fabled
British barrister Sir Wilfred Robards (Charles Laughton)
has been ordered by his doctor to give up everything he
holds dear-brandy, cigars and especially courtroom
cases. Robards' already shaky resolve to follow doctor's
orders flies out the window when he takes up the defense
of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), a personable young man
accused of murdering a rich old widow. The case becomes
something of a sticky wicket when Vole's "loving" German
wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich) announces that she's
not legally married to Robards' client-and she fully
intends to appear as a witness for the prosecution! At
the close of this film, a narrator implores the audience
not to divulge the ending; we will herein honor that
request. A delicious Billy Wilder mixture of humor,
intrigue and melodrama, Witness for the Prosecution
is distinguished by its hand-picked supporting cast:
John Williams as the police inspector, Henry Daniell as
Robards' law partner, Una O'Connor as the murder
victim's stone-deaf maid, Torin Thatcher as the
prosecutor, Ruta Lee as a sobbing courtroom spectator,
and Charles Laughton's wife Elsa Lanchester as Robards'
ever-chipper nurse (a role especially written for the
film, so that Lanchester could look after Laughton on
the set). And keep an eye out for that uncredited
actress playing the vengeful-and pivotal-cockney.
Adapted by Wilder, Harry Kurnitz and Larry Marcus from
the play by Agatha Christie, Witness for the Prosecution
was remade for television in 1982.

The undisputed star of this courtroom drama is Alexander Trauner's
magnificent recreation of the Old Bailey, which is just as well, since
the presence of Charles Laughton as the defence counsel, and the film's
origins as an Agatha Christie novel and play, combine to give the movie
a heavy - almost stolid - theatrical flavour. Tyrone Power is
surprisingly good as the man accused of murdering his mistress, but the
swift twists and turns of Ms Christie's plot soon drain Dietrich and
Laughton's roles of any dramatic credibility.

Image : NOTE:The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.

Much to the delight of film fans, Billy Wilders
Witness for the Prosecution has made it to
Blu-ray
-
from Kino/Lorber. This is not reaching the upper
levels of the format being single-layered with a modest
bitrate for the 2 hour film. But, aside from the
less-stellar first 5-10 minutes the image settles down to be
quite adept - certainly stronger than SD. Contrast has some
nice layering and there is some depth exported. Black levels
seem consistent. This is transferred in the original 1.66:1
aspect ratio. This
Blu-ray
has some solid detail and, all things considered, looks
quite pleasing without damage or excessive speckles. I
enjoyed by viewing, impressed by the 1080P - without
expectations of something dynamically crisper. It is
certainly no demo - but provides a decent HD presentation.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY
CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

Audio :

Like the video
- the audio seems competently transferred. We get a DTS-HD Master 2.0
channel at 1668 kbps. There are not an abundance of aggressive effects
sounds - mostly dialogue - but the score by Matty Malneck (some of his
music used in
Thieves' Highway,
Some Like It Hot,
The Benny Goodman Story) Bravo! The audio here is subject to the weakness
of the production and this is probably as good as it will get. There are
some effects with depth via the lossless. There are no subtitles offered
and m

For extras Kino
include a 7-minute video piece, with director Volker Schlöndorff as host
(an excerpt from his excellent "Billy Wilder Speaks" documentary
from 2006), showing footage of
Billy Wilder talking about Agatha Christie's writing and Witness for
the Prosecution - mostly in German with English subtitles although
the conversation is interrupted by a phone call where Wilder is then
speaking French. There is also a 3-minute trailer in 1080P but with
damage.

BOTTOM LINE: Witness for the Prosecution is brilliant! One of the better
courtroom dramas brought to screen. I was pleased, enough,
with this Kino Lorber
Blu-ray, although it is not at Criterion-level - either in transfer or
supplements. Still I am so grateful to see, and own, the
wonderful film in 1080P! I also like the cover. Despite any
niggling, to me it seems an easy decision. Enjoy!

NOTE: 43% OFF on Amazon Pre-order!!

Gary Tooze

July 4th, 2014

About the Reviewer:
Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film
since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was
around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my
horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out
new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500
DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my
discussion Listserv for furthering my film
education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver.
Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our
Amazon links.

Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction.